LOS ANGELES — Per Joshua Kelley’s transfer release from UC Davis, the running back said he was allowed to contact just two California schools: UCLA or USC.

The choice was simple.

“It’s just instilled in me that blue and gold was where we were going to be,” Kelley said, flashing his signature smile.

The former walk-on turned star running back for the Bruins has an aunt and uncle who both went to UCLA. His uncle played baseball at UCLA. His mother volunteered at the school. Although he said Lancaster was a neutral area in the heated UCLA-USC rivalry when he was growing up, his house was far from impartial.

Kelley’s mother Jacqueline said last month her son got interest from Boise State during his transfer process, but she secretly hoped he would stay closer to home. When he impressed UCLA coaches at a camp and got admitted, Jacqueline breathed a sigh of relief.

“I was so glad,” she said in October. “I was like, ‘Thank God! He’s home!’

“And,” she added, “it’s UCLA. Go Bruins.”

Kelley redshirted last year due to transfer rules, but marveled at the rivalry atmosphere from the Coliseum sideline as UCLA (2-8, 2-5 Pac-12) lost 28-23. The energy was incredible, Kelley remembers. He couldn’t wait to play in the storied game this year.

“It’s what it’s all about,” Kelley said of the crosstown rivalry that will continue Saturday at the Rose Bowl.

The 5-foot-11 running back who was overlooked by major programs coming out of Eastside High despite being named first-team All-Golden League as a senior and the league’s running back of the year said he’s especially excited for the opportunity to compete in a game with national attention.

The teams enter Saturday’s game with 13 combined losses, the most ever in the rivalry’s 88-year history, but the matchup still earned a coveted 12:30 p.m. TV slot on FOX.

Kelley was held to less than 100 rushing yards for just the second time in Pac-12 play last week against Arizona State. With 79 rushing yards last week, the transfer still ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in rushing with 99.9 yards per game. The redshirt junior averages 124.6 rushing yards per conference game and has scored rushing touchdowns in six consecutive games, the first UCLA player to do so since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2005.

USC (5-5, 4-4 Pac-12) ranks ninth in the Pac-12 in rushing defense, allowing 153.9 yards per game, but contained Oregon State’s Jermar Jefferson to just 58 yards on 18 carries two weeks ago. Jefferson, a freshman, entered the game as the Pac-12’s leading rusher.

“We want to go out there and compete,” Kelley said. “I’m definitely amped up and as a team we’re excited.”

Thuc Nhi Nguyen has covered UCLA for the Southern California News Group since 2016. A proud Seattle native, she majored in journalism and mathematics at the University of Washington. She likes graphs, animated GIFs and superheroes.